Joan Vernikos, Ph.D.
Dr. Joan Vernikos is professor and executive director of Taksha Space Health Institute (TSHI), School of Integrative Medicine (SIM), Taksha University (TU)
Former Director of NASA's Life Sciences, Joan Vernikos, Ph.D., is an author, health coach, consultant, and sought-after motivational speaker on the tangible health and economic benefits to individuals and organizations of resetting your health for life, living healthy and healthy aging. A pharmacologist from the University of London, her research and publications on the management of stress, and how spaceflight and Earth's gravity affect men and women, have been recognized with numerous awards. She also holds three patents.
A member of the International Academy of Astronautics, Dr. Vernikos has served on the Space Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences, and is the NAS Space correspondent for Defense and Foreign Affairs. Her books include the award-winning The G-Connection: Harness Gravity and Reverse Aging (2004), Stress Fitness for Seniors (2009), and Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Simple Everyday Movement will Prevent Pain, Illness and Early Death -- and Exercise Alone Won't (2011).
Dr. Vernikos teaches the following courses at Taksha University:
TSH638: Health in Space
TSH640: Health Preparation for Travel/Living in Space Using Non-Medicinal Integrated Therapeutic Modalities
TSH642: Stress and Yoga Therapy for Stress Management
TIM644: Stress Management and Yoga Therapy for the Care-Giver